A “female Viagra”?? Can mindfulness help with female arousal and desire issues?
| Drug companies are searching for a “female Viagra”. So far, there is no pill that enhances female arousal.
Pyschological and behavioral methods are used to help low desire and arousal. Dr. Lori Brotto talks about mindfulness and female sexual arousal. |
Why is it hard to produce a “female Viagra” drug?
Arousal and desire are phases in female sexual response. For most women they are indistinguishable. For men, desire and arousal are obvious distinct phases.
Male arousal is impacted by genital blood flow. Viagra works directly on genital blood flow. Genital blood flow hardly affects female desire/ arousal.
Female arousal/ desire can be strongly influenced by:
- Relationship satisfaction
- Mood
- Self-esteem
- Body image
- Health
- Stress, depression, anxiety
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is paying attention to what is happening now.
Mindfulness is cultivating a non-judgmental attitude to experience.
Low female arousal/ desire
There are multiple factors involved in female sexual response.
The following can be factors in low arousal/ desire in women:
- Depressed and anxious thoughts
- Self-critical thoughts
- Concern about outcome of sexual encounter
- Tendency to follow distracting thoughts
- Low self image
- Feeling emotionally volatile
- Out of touch with body
How does mindfulness work like a “female Viagra”?
- Mindfulness helps anxiety and depression. Depressive symptoms can be seen in low female arousal/ desire.
- Mindfulness increases awareness of the body. Sexual responses unfolding moment by moment are recognised.
- Judgment about sexual experience is lessened.
- Distracting thoughts can be treated as “mental events”.
- More sexual cues are noticed. This is a result of more awareness all of the time.
- Mindfulness can reduce dwelling on bad past sexual experiences.
- Practicing mindfulness leads to less stress and distress. This leads to increased relationship satisfaction.
What next?
Female low desire is very complex. There are many factors involved. Mindfulness can be helpful.
If you are interested in finding out more, phone 07927 026 299 or email. Relationship and psychosexual therapy can help to explore factors impacting on low female arousal/ desire.
For more about factors impacting on female sexuality see Befriending your body: Understanding female sexuality